Tiger Woods celebrates after sinking his putt on the 18th green to win the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Tiger Woods may be back on top of the golfing world but the sex scandal that obliterated his career — and reputation — still haunts him.

Woods, 43, launched a remarkable comeback win at the Masters Tournament last weekend. It was the superstar’s first major title in 11 years.

But in 2009, Woods — the best golfer of his generation — watched as it all came apart in the wake of a sex scandal that seemed to grow by the hour.

Tiger Woods celebrates with the Masters Trophy during the Green Jacket Ceremony after winning the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 14, 2019 in Augusta, Georgia. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)

“It’s always there, in the back of his mind. He doesn’t like to talk about it — or even anything that was happening at that time of his life. It’s painful to him. But he persevered and made himself into a better man.”

His glittering career and marriage hit the wall the day after Thanksgiving in 2009 when he crashed his Cadillac Escalade on the street outside his home.

The ex-wife of Tiger Woods, Swedish model Elin Nordegren, kicked him to the curb in 2009. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Then came the bimbo eruption as dozens of cocktail waitresses, PR flacks, porn stars and a slew of other women claimed they had engaged in sex with the golfer.

From there, it was all downhill as Woods’ army of sponsors abandoned him and his game became like the limbo of an unforgiving sand trap.

From the No. 1 ranked golfer on the planet, he slid in the rankings to an abysmal No. 1,199.

“He lost everything,” the source said. “And it was really rough for a really long time. He really found out who his friends were. He’s been left with a lot of scars.”

The New York Post was relentless. NEW YORK POST

Injuries that had been plaguing Woods have been eased, thanks to a number of surgeries.

He found peace co-parenting with his ex-wife, and his game returned. His children were on hand as their father won the Masters.

“It means the world to me. Their love and their support, I just can’t say enough how much that meant to me throughout my struggles when I really just had a hard time moving around,” Woods told reporters.

“Just their infectiousness of happiness; you know, I was going through a tough time physically. There was a lot of times when I really couldn’t move and so that in itself is difficult.”

In a way, the golfer’s injuries were a blessing in disguise.

“He’s a completely different person than he was in 2009,” the source told People. “He was an overgrown boy back then. Now he’s a man.”

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